The New England Patriots kicked off their 2019 season in the best way possible. Sure, Tom Brady and most of the starters didn’t play and this doesn’t affect the standings, but it felt great to see the Patriots on the field again. New England did anything and everything they wanted against Detroit, so there was no shortage of great plays during Thursday’s action. Let’s take a look at the top five Patriots plays of the game from New England’s demolition of the Detroit Lions.
New England Patriots Plays of the Game: Preseason Week One
5. Jamie Collins Sack
The Patriots pass rush was ferocious throughout the night, but Jamie Collins had arguably the most impressive sack of the night. After falling into Bill Belichick’s doghouse in 2016, Collins spent the past two seasons stuck in football purgatory (Cleveland). The time away appears to have done wonders, as Collins’ still has his athleticism and did a fantastic job all night at setting the edge and plugging his gaps.
https://twitter.com/DLPatsThoughts/status/1159661410231693313?s=20
4. Jarrett Stidham’s Best Throws
This is admittedly cheating, but Jarrett Stidham had a series of amazing throws which just didn’t connect. The fourth-round rookie had a debut for the ages, as he showed an impressive command of the offense and a splendid ability to go through his reads.
https://twitter.com/DLPatsThoughts/status/1159662152535425024?s=20
3. Jakobi Meyers’ First Touchdown
Jakobi Meyers going undrafted was one of the biggest surprises from the 2019 NFL Draft. Meyers had several huge plays throughout the night, but his first touchdown was one of the best. The North Carolina State product battled through a hold and used his size to haul in the second touchdown of the game.
https://twitter.com/DLPatsThoughts/status/1159663058526134272?s=20
2. Stidham to Meyers In Crunch Time
Jakobi Meyers and Jarrett Stidham were the biggest stars of the game, and deservedly make multiple appearances on this list. Meyers simply couldn’t be covered, and Stidham was dropping darts throughout the matchup. Their best connection late in the second when Stidham found Meyers for a massive gain over the middle. Meyers did a phenomenal job at beating his men while Stidham expertly dropped a dime between a sea of defenders.
https://twitter.com/DLPatsThoughts/status/1159663521413697536?s=20
1. N’Keal Harry Goes Airborne
N’Keal Harry didn’t play much in this one, but the first-round rookie still made the play of the game. Late in the first quarter, Brian Hoyer tossed a jump ball into tight coverage. Harry masterfully outleaped his defender, high-pointed the football, and brought in the catch for a big gain on second down. Unfortunately, Harry suffered an injury on the play and didn’t return to the game. However, the rookie was walking around on the sideline and didn’t appear to suffer any serious harm.
https://twitter.com/DLPatsThoughts/status/1159663960595062784?s=20
Check out this thread for in-depth highlights of New England’s 31-3 victory over the Detroit Lions
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
